Method for feeding elongate workpieces of wood, plastic material, and the like as well as device for performing the method

Abstract

Elongate workpieces are transported in a transport direction and assembled to a string in the transport direction. A leading elongate workpiece is removed from the string and accelerated in a downstream discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string. A stop is moved into the gap and prevents the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther. The stop is removed when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and then the following elongate workpiece is removed from the string.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for performing a method comprising: transporting elongate workpieces in a transport direction corresponding to a length direction of the elongate workpieces and assembling the elongate workpieces to form a string in the transport direction, wherein end faces of the elongate workpieces facing each other in the string contact each other in the transport direction; removing a leading elongate workpiece from the string and transferring the leading elongate workpiece to a discharge device; accelerating the leading elongate workpiece in the discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string; moving a stop into the gap and preventing the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther; removing the stop when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and removing the following elongate workpiece from the string; the apparatus comprising:
 a feed device comprising a first transport device configured to transport elongate workpieces in a length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 a discharge device arranged downstream of the feed device and comprising a second transport device configured to transport the elongate workpieces in the length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 a transverse conveyor arranged downstream of the discharge device, the transverse conveyor configured to transport the elongate workpieces in a transport direction transverse to the length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are aligned with each other in the transport direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are configured to be driven independently from each other; 
 a stop arranged between the feed device and the discharge device and configured to be moved into a transport path of the elongate workpieces from the feed device into the discharge device; 
 a control, wherein the first transport device comprises a first drive, wherein the second transport device comprises a second drive, wherein the stop comprises a third drive, wherein the first drive, the second drive, and the third drive are connected to the control. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the transverse conveyor comprises an alignment unit positioned in a transport path of the elongate workpieces in the transport direction transverse to the length direction of the elongate workpieces and configured to align the elongate workpieces in the length direction of the elongate workpieces. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for performing a method comprising: transporting elongate workpieces in a transport direction corresponding to a length direction of the elongate workpieces and assembling the elongate workpieces to form a string in the transport direction, wherein end faces of the elongate workpieces facing each other in the string contact each other in the transport direction; removing a leading elongate workpiece from the string and transferring the leading elongate workpiece to a discharge device; accelerating the leading elongate workpiece in the discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string; moving a stop into the gap and preventing the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther; removing the stop when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and removing the following elongate workpiece from the string; the apparatus comprising:
 a feed device comprising a first transport device configured to transport elongate workpieces in a length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 a discharge device arranged downstream of the feed device and comprising a second transport device configured to transport the elongate workpieces in the length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 a transverse conveyor arranged downstream of the discharge device, the transverse conveyor configured to transport the elongate workpieces in a transport direction transverse to the length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are aligned with each other in the transport direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are configured to be driven independently from each other; 
 a stop arranged between the feed device and the discharge device and configured to be moved into a transport path of the elongate workpieces from the feed device into the discharge device; 
 wherein a minimal length of the discharge device measured in the transport direction corresponds to a maximum length of the elongate workpieces and to a braking distance from a discharge speed to a standstill and to an acceleration distance from standstill to the discharge speed. 
 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for performing a method comprising: transporting elongate workpieces in a transport direction corresponding to a length direction of the elongate workpieces and assembling the elongate workpieces to form a string in the transport direction, wherein end faces of the elongate workpieces facing each other in the string contact each other in the transport direction; removing a leading elongate workpiece from the string and transferring the leading elongate workpiece to a discharge device; accelerating the leading elongate workpiece in the discharge device such that a gap is formed between the leading elongate workpiece and a following elongate workpiece of the string; moving a stop into the gap and preventing the following elongate workpiece of the string from being transported farther; removing the stop when the leading elongate workpiece has left the discharge device and removing the following elongate workpiece from the string; the apparatus comprising:
 a feed device comprising a first transport device configured to transport elongate workpieces in a length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 a discharge device arranged downstream of the feed device and comprising a second transport device configured to transport the elongate workpieces in the length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 a transverse conveyor arranged downstream of the discharge device, the transverse conveyor configured to transport the elongate workpieces in a transport direction transverse to the length direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are aligned with each other in the transport direction of the elongate workpieces; 
 wherein the first transport device and the second transport device are configured to be driven independently from each other; 
 a stop arranged between the feed device and the discharge device and configured to be moved into a transport path of the elongate workpieces from the feed device into the discharge device; 
 wherein the apparatus is configured to be arranged upstream of a finger jointing device.